Research & Reference
Sources
A curated list of archives, databases, and resources for researching African-Canadian genealogy and the history of the Elgin Settlement.
Archives & Institutions
The following institutions hold primary records relevant to the Elgin Settlement and African-Canadian history. This list will grow as the conference develops its resource library.
Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
North Buxton, Ontario — primary repository for Elgin Settlement records, photographs, and artefacts.
Library and Archives Canada
Federal holdings including census records, immigration records, and military service files.
Archives of Ontario
Provincial records including land registry, vital statistics, and county court records.
Chatham-Kent Public Library
Local history collection and access to regional newspaper archives.
Online Databases
Ancestry.ca
Canadian census, birth, marriage, and death records.
FamilySearch
Free access to millions of genealogical records, including Ontario church registers.
Freedmen's Bureau Records (USA)
Essential for tracing families who moved between the US and Canada before and after the Civil War.
The African Canadian Heritage Tour
A curated guide to significant Black heritage sites across Ontario.
Recommended Reading
A reading list of key texts on the Elgin Settlement, African-Canadian history, and genealogical method will be posted here as the conference programme develops. Speaker recommendations will be added following the conference.
Contribute a Source
Know of a resource that should be on this list? We welcome contributions from researchers and community members.
The Buxton Conference
Saturday, September 5, 2026
North Buxton Historical Site
Chatham-Kent, Ontario